On a grassy lawn at Cal State Long Beach sat a small backpack with a picture and brief message commemorating Kathy Philip, a nurse who committed suicide in May 2008.

“As a career nurse and hospice volunteer, she eased the pain of the thousands for whom she cared …,” the message read.

The backpack was one of 1,100 placed on campus Thursday to represent the number of college students who commit suicide each year.

“It’s hard to see this because I feel like I’m going through it myself. … I’m just struggling with school and everything,” said 19-year-old nursing major Andi Tesoro, as she stared at Kathy’s picture. “I think I’ll start talking to my sister more. She’s been through nursing school and knows how hard it can be.”

The backpacks, donated by the friends and family members of those lost to suicide, are part of a traveling exhibit meant to raise awareness about mental health on college campuses. The Washington, D.C.-based project called Send Silence Packing is visiting a dozen cities in California for its fall 2011 tour.

Some students at Cal State Long Beach wiped away tears as they wandered through the mass of backpacks on Speaker’s Platform Lawn. Many backpacks had personal photos and messages commemorating the victim. Others were accompanied with signs that read: “Never Be Afraid to Ask for Help!” and “Treatment is effective and can help.”

“It’s shocking to see how many there are. I didn’t think it was so many people each year,” said Michelle Ortiz, a 19-year-old psychology major. “It really puts it into perspective.”

As part of the exhibit, students could get more information through Active Minds, a mental health awareness organization that focuses on college campuses, and CSULB’s On Campus Emergency Assistance Network, or Project OCEAN.

Dave Sanfilippo, director of Disabled Students Services, said he helped spearhead Project OCEAN three years ago after seeing an influx of students with mental health issues. The project provides counseling and psychological services on campus.He said Project OCEAN worked to bring the Send Silence Packing exhibit to Long Beach.

“We thought this was much more impactful than a lecture,” he said.

Searching through a row of backpacks, Pam Rayburn came across one that was familiar. The backpack had belonged to her daughter Michele Smith, a community college athlete who committed suicide four years ago at age 23. Rayburn, a Long Beach resident and CSULB employee, said she joined Project OCEAN as a way to work through her grief. She now counsels others on how to look for signs of mental health problems.

“I couldn’t save her, but at least through my efforts here I can help prevent another student from taking a life,” she said.

Kelly Puente covers courts and criminal justice for the Register. She has worked as a journalist since 2006 covering everything from education to crime and breaking news. Kelly previously worked at the Long Beach Press-Telegram before joining the Register in 2013.

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